Luke 9, 18-27 +
CSDC and CV
CV 34d. Gift
by its nature goes beyond merit, its rule is that of superabundance. It takes
first place in our souls as a sign of God's presence in us, a sign of what he
expects from us. Truth — which is itself gift, in the same way as charity — is
greater than we are, as Saint Augustine teaches [88]. Likewise
the truth of ourselves, of our personal conscience, is first of all given to
us. In every cognitive process, truth is not something that we produce, it is
always found, or better, received. Truth, like love, “is neither planned nor
willed, but somehow imposes itself upon human beings”[89].
Notes: [88] Saint Augustine expounds this
teaching in detail in his dialogue on free will (De libero arbitrio, II,
3, 8ff.). He indicates the existence within the human soul of an “internal
sense”. This sense consists in an act that is fulfilled outside the normal
functions of reason, an act that is not the result of reflection, but is almost
instinctive, through which reason, realizing its transient and fallible nature,
admits the existence of something eternal, higher than itself, something
absolutely true and certain. The name that Saint Augustine gives to this interior
truth is at times the name of God (Confessions X, 24, 35; XII, 25, 35;
De libero arbitrio II, 3, 8), more often that of Christ (De magistro
11:38; Confessions VII, 18, 24; XI, 2, 4). [89] Benedict
XVI, Encyclical Letter Deus Caritas Est,
3: loc. cit., 219.
To promote progress in needy regions and international social justice
CSDC 99. In this regard, in 1967, Pope Paul VI
establishes the Pontifical Commission “Iustitia et Pax”, thus fulfilling
the wishes of the Council Fathers who considered it “most opportune that an
organism of the Universal Church be set up in order that both the justice and
love of Christ toward the poor might be developed everywhere. The role of such
an organism would be to stimulate the Catholic community to promote progress in
needy regions and international social justice”[185]. By initiative of Pope
Paul VI, beginning in 1968, the Church celebrates the first day of the year as
the World Day of Peace. This same Pontiff started the tradition of
writing annual Messages that deal with the theme chosen for each World Day
of Peace. These Messages expand and enrich the corpus of the Church's
social doctrine.
Notes: [185] Second
Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes, 90:
AAS 58 (1966), 1112.
(Lk 9, 18-27) If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself
18 Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the
disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I
am?" 19 They said in reply, "John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still
others, 'One of the ancient prophets has arisen.'" 20 Then he said to
them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said in reply, "The
Messiah of God." 21 He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to
anyone. 22 He said, "The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by
the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third
day be raised." 23 Then he said to all, "If anyone wishes to come
after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life
for my sake will save it. 25 What profit is there for one to gain the whole
world yet lose or forfeit himself? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words,
the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his glory and in the glory
of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 Truly I say to you, there are some
standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God."
CSDC 122. The new reality that Jesus
Christ gives us is not grafted onto human nature nor is it added from outside:
it is rather that reality of communion with the Trinitarian God to which men
and women have always been oriented in the depths of their being, thanks to
their creaturely likeness to God. But this is also a reality that people cannot
attain by their own forces alone. Through the Spirit of Jesus Christ, the
incarnate Son of God, in whom this reality of communion has already been
brought about in a singular manner, men and women are received as children of God
(cf. Rom 8:14-17; Gal 4:4-7). By means of Christ, we share in the nature of
God, who gives us infinitely more “than all that we ask or think” (Eph 3:20).
What mankind has already received is nothing more than a token or a “guarantee”
(2 Cor 1:22; Eph 1:14) of what it will receive in its fullness only in the
presence of God, seen “face to face” (1 Cor 13:12), that is, a guarantee of
eternal life: “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God,
and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (Jn 17:3).
[Initials
and Abbreviations.- CSDC:
Pontifical Council for Justice And Peace, Compendium of the Social
Doctrine of the Church; - SDC:
Social Doctrine of the Church; - CV: Benedict
XVI, Caritas in Veritate (Charity
in truth)]
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